A curated selection of public diplomacy-relevant news from a global cross-section of English-language media outlets, including independent, corporate-owned, and state-sponsored sources. The stories featured don't necessarily represent CPD's views nor have they been verified by CPD.
The Growing Influence of China in the Middle East
China is quickly becoming a world power, capable of exercising considerable influence over other countries. And it is advancing to the centre of the geopolitical stage just as — if not because — American and European leadership seems to be retreating into the wings. China certainly has a receptive audience. One reason is that the “darker nations”, as the international-studies scholar Vijay Prashad calls global-South countries, feel greater kinship with China than with the United States and Europe.
Mercy Malaysia Enters Gaza to Deliver Humanitarian Aid
The Malaysian Medical Relief Society (Mercy Malaysia) today entered Gaza, Palestine, through the Rafah border crossing in Egypt to deliver humanitarian aid to the people there. According to the volunteer association, the mission this time is the first humanitarian mission allowed to enter through the Rafah border since Mercy Malaysia’s last working visit in 2014.
Brazil's National Brand Hits Low Point
The news cycle about Brazil’s abundant economic and political problems – combined with issues during the Olympics – have damaged Brazil’s national brand. Latin America’s largest country dropped to 23rd place in the Anholt-GfK Nation Brands Index. It is Brazil’s worst ranking to date. NBI rates the image of 50 countries based on interviews and panels held in several parts of the world. It evaluates nations in six different criteria: politics, culture, population, tourism, the potential for immigration, and business friendliness.
Shanghai Reception Celebrates Birthday of Emperor of Japan
The Consulate General of Japan in Shanghai hosted a reception on December 1 to celebrate the 83rd birthday of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, Akihito. Held at Okura Garden Hotel in downtown Shanghai, hundreds of guests, including officials from local governments, such as the city of Shanghai and Jiangsu Province, business people, academia, artists and the representatives of the Japanese community attended the ceremony and reception.
Workshop Starts for Pakistani Heritage Professionals
A 6-day international training workshop will start from December 12 to inscribe rich Intangible Cultural Heritage on UNESCO'S Representative List of Humanity that will bring Pakistan on the cultural map of the world and would promote its soft image. National history and Literary Heritage Division (NH&LH), Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage in collaboration with CRIHAP and UNESCO, is organising the 6-day training workshop on community based inventorying under UNESCO 2003 Convention on safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Dubai to Set up First Arab Film Institute
Dubai has announced plans to set up the first Arab Film Institute (AFI), a non-profit cultural association dedicated to celebrating and promoting regional film. Designed to bring together the most promising and brightest of Arab filmmakers under one roof, the AFI will be a unique meeting point between the art, technique and commerce involved in a prosperous film industry through learning, advocacy and networking.
On Human Rights Day, UN Urges Everyone to Stand Up for Universal Rights
“Upholding human rights is in the interest of all. Respect for human rights advances well-being for every individual, stability for every society, and harmony for our interconnected world,” U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said.
'Cultural initiatives Must to Boost Indo-Pak Ties'
Noted Hindi poet-critic Ashok Vajpeyi on Friday said cultural initiatives are important to improve ties with Pakistan in the long-run and hoped the two neighbours can be comrades in arms in the sphere of art.
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